Feed mechanism for ticket-printing machines.



M. 0. ANTHONY.

FEED MECHANISM FOR TICKET PRINTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 7' I912.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916 2 SNEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR WITNESSES vmzw M. O. ANTHONY. FEED MECHANISM FOR TICKET PRINTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7, 1912.

1 1 9'7, 1 69 Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: 11v VENTOR' M M Marco/J flflfinihor;

A llorneys UMTFZH s rains ramnnr MARCUS O. ANTHQNY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FEED MECHANISM FOR TICKET-PRINTING MACHINES.

Application filed November 7, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARCUS Q. ANTHONY, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Feed Mechanism for Ticket-Printing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

v This invention is a feed mechanism for ticket printing machines, the, latter being of the general type disclosed in a prior applica tion erial No. 668,609, filed on December 30, 1911, by Flurscheim and myself.

The feed mechanism of the present invention is designed for moving a strip of tickets into the path of a printing member, and, more particularlv, for feeding a strip of pin tickets into position whereby the successive tickets of the strip may receive printed impressions, said feed mechanism operating to advance the strip without hindrance from or interference with the pins thereof.

In a practical embodiment of the invention, an impression bed is positioned in the path of a printing head, and with this impression bed cooperates an intermittent feed mechanism which advances the strip ticket, whereby successive tickets are moved over or across the bed. This feed mechanism is actuated in unison with movement of the printing head, so that the strip ticket will be actuated automatically after each printed impression.

One form of the feed mechanism embodies a rack rod drawn in a direction to push the strip ticket lengthwise, and with this rack rod cooperates an escapement or dog which is actuated by-the printing head so as to control the rod and impart the required step by step feed movement to said rod.

Other features of the invention, and the advantages thereof, will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction shown therein, is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ticket printing machine equipped with a feed mechanism for moving a strip of pin tickets into operative position relative to a printing head. Fig. .2 is a plan view of the machine Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ed dept. 53, 1916.

Serial No. 729,948.

illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section through the impression bed and a part of the intermittent feed mechanism for the pin ticket strip, the plane of the section being indicated by the dotted line 3-3 of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a vertical section at right angles to Fig. 3 and in the plane of the dotted line 44:. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through a part of the feed rod and the guide tube which cooperates therewith. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section illustrating one means for imparting movement to the feed rod. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of a part of the guide tube and the member for imparting movement to the strip of pin tickets, a part of the pin ticket strip being shown.

A designates a table supported in a raised position by suitable legs a, said table being provided with bearings Z) for power shaft B. Said power shaft is provided with carrying arms 0, on the outer ends of which arms is a printing head C. The table is provided with short upstanding arms (Z to which are pivoted other arms D parallel to the arms 0, said arms D being pivoted to crank arms (5 of the printing head C. This printing head is carried by trunnions e which are slidably fitted in curved slots provided in guide bars 0 the latter being fixed to the table. The trunnions c pivotally connect the printing head to the carrying arms a, and when shaft B is operated the printing head is given a traversing movement from the dotted line position to the full line position of Fig. 1, and vice versa, said printing head being directed in its movement by the slot in the guide bars, and being presented in proper operative position to an impression bed by arms D. The power shaft B is provided with counterweights e which counterbalance the weight of the printing head on said shaft. The general construction of the printing machine is disclosed in the prior application Serial No. 668609 of Flurscheim and Anthony to which reference has been made and which printing mechanism is of the general class disclosed in applications filed by me on November 7,

1912, Serial No. 729,947 and on November 1 19, 1912, Serial No. 732,238. The printing head embodies means for supporting movable type and for inking said movable type, all as disclosed in an application filed by me even date herewith. Accordingly, it is not considered necessary to more fully describe the general construction of the printing machine, nor to enter into a detailed description of the printing head, for the reason that the present invention pertains to the intermittent feed mechanism for advancing a pin ticket strip into position to receive printed impressions from the printing head.

The material to be operated upon is disclosed in Fig. 7 of the drawings, wherein there is illustrated a strip of material X divided by ttz'tllSVBlSB lines a: into a series of tickets, said ticket strip or the individual tickets being provided with pins 00 which depends from the ticket strip substantially at one edge thereof. For advancing this ticket strip to the printing mechanism in a manner to position the successive tickets in operative relation to the printing head without the pins w interfering with the operation either of the printing mechanism or of the feed mechanism, I have provided a novel construction embodied in an impression bed E and an intermittent feed mechanism which cooperates with the impression bed so as to impart movement to the ticket strip X.

The impression bed E is shown in the form of a block having means for attaching the same to a plate A on table A or directly to said table A, whereby the ticket strip is adapted to be supported by the bed E in a position raised above table A or the plate A, so that the depending pins w of the ticket strip will be free to move across the bed without hindrance from the table or the plate thereon. The bed E may be attached in any suitable way to table A, but as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, said impression bed is provided with a dovetailed strip 6 secured firmly to the bottom thereof. The impression bed is adapted to be positioned upon the table A in a manner for the dovetailed strip 6 to enter a clove-tailed groove provided in the table or in plate A, said strip 6 operating to retain the impression bed fixedly in position upon the table. The impression bed is provided with a vertical chamber 7 and a longitudinal slot 9, said slot intersecting with said chamber f. EX- tending longitudinally through the impression bed is a horizontal guide tube H, the length of which is suflicient to extend at both ends beyond the printing mechanism. The horizontal guide tube is supported in a fixed position by the impression bed, it lies below the traversing printing head C and it extends lengthwise of the printing mechanism, one end portion of the tube projecting for a short distance beyond a corresponding end portion of the printing mechanism,

whereas the opposite end portion of the tube extends for a considerable distance beyond said printing mechanism. This guide tube is provided in one side with a longitudinal slot h in which is slidably fitted a pusher member I, the latter being positioned substantially exteriorly to the guide tube for the purpose of engaging with the pin ticket strip in a manner to impart movement to said strip. Any suitable form of pusher member may be employed, but as shown in Fig; 7 the pusher member is a bent piece of metal one end of which is slidable in slot 71, of the guide tube, but the other end of the pusher member is positioned cxteriorly to the guide tube in a manner to engage with the ticket strip or certain pins thereof. The pusher member is attached to a slidable rod J which is positioned within the guide tube so as to be supported and guided thereby. This rod is provided at intervals with notches forming shoulders in the top and bottom faces of the rod respectively. lilorement is imparted to the rod so as to impel it in one direction, the impelling means being illustrated in Fig. 6 in the form of a rotatable drum K, the shaft 7.: of which is supported in suitable bearings of a hanger said hanger being rigidly attached to an end portion of the horizontal tube ii. The drum is impelled in one direction by a spring, such as the coiled spring k and around this drum is coiled a cord cable or other flexible connection Z one end of which is attached to the rack rod J, whereby the tension of the spring within the drum is exerted through the flexible connection on the rack rod for the purpose of drawing the latter lengthwise within the guide tube H, thus imparting movement to the pusher member I and to the ticket strip X.

The means for impelling the rack rod is connected to one end of said rod but for drawing the rod back to a position ready to begin the operation I employ a pull cord L or its mechanical equivalent, said pull cord being attached to that end of the rod having the pusher member 1 The pull cord extends loosely through the guide tube and hangs freely from one end thereof. said pull cord being within easy reach of the operator for the purpose of moving the rack rod in an opposite direction to that in which it is impelled or drawn by the spring actuated drum. The rack rod is preferably somewhat longer than the strip of pin tickets in order that the rod may feed the ticket strip for its entire length across the impression bed,

with the traversing movement of the printing head in such manner that an intermittent movement is imparted to the rack rod, the pusher, and the ticket strip. The escapement is shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4: of the drawings, and it embodies two pivoted dogs N O. The dog N is pivoted by a pin 1?. to a stationary part of the impression bed, and this dog extends g across the top of the rackrod, said dog being held by a spring P normally in an inclined raised position relative to the rod so that the dog is out of the path of the shoulders j on the top of said rod. The other dog 0 is pivotally connected to dog N by a pin 79 so that the dog 0 is attached to, and movable with, dog N, said dog 0 being movable on an axis at right angles to the axis of movement of the dog N; in other words, pin 7?. which pivotally supports dog N is horizontal, whereas the pin p which supports dog 0 is vertical. The dog 0 extends below the rack rod and is normally in the path of shoulders j on the under side of said rack rod, but this dog 0 is under the control of a spring 0 which permits the dog 0 to have a limited yielding movement with the rod J when the latter is drawn in a forward direction by drum K. The escapement mecha nism is operated in unison with the movement of the printing head and for this purpose the dog N of the escapement is provided with a finger Q, the latter being rigid with the dog or made in one piece therewith. The finger Q extends through chamber 7 so as to operate freely therein, and this finger is in the path of a stem R which is mounted for sliding movement in a guide 7' forming a part of the impression bed E. Said stem normally rests upon the finger Q, of the es capement dog N so as to be lifted by the action of the spring P, and said stem is pro vided at its upper end with a head 1', the latter being in the path of the printing head C or a part thereof. S designates a plate which is attached to the impression bed and extends horizontally over the uide tube H. This plate S is connected by one or more collars s to the guide tube for supporting the latter steadily in position. On one side of the guide plate S is a guide rod T, one end of which is bent or offset downwardly at t and secured rigidly on the impression bed E. The ticket strip is adapted to rest upon and to be moved over the plate S, whereas the depending pins 00 of the ticket strip extend into the space between the plate S and the guide rod T, the plate and the rod cooperating with the pins of the ticket strip for the purpose of retainingsaid ticket strip in position relative to the impression bed.

The operation may be described as follows: Prior to placing the ticket strip into position to be printed upon by the type in the printing head C, the operator draws on pull cord L so as to move the rack rod J in a direction to uncoil cord Z from drum K, thus placing the spring in the drum under tension. The rack rod is provided with inclined surfaces next to the shoulders j which permits said rod to be drawn freely in one direction, the dogs N O sliding idly over the rod owing to the inclination of the forward part of the shoulders on said rod. When the rod is moved to a position for the pusher member I to lie substantially at one end of the guide tube, the springs P 0 move the dogs N 0 into a position wherein the dog N engages with one shoulder 7' on the upper side of the rack rod, thereby locking the rack rod against movement under the tension of the spring drum. The machine is now ready to receive the ticket strip X which is placed in position upon the top of the guide tube H and with one end of the ticket resting upon the impression bed E, the depending pins w of the ticket strip being in a position to slide into the groove 9 of the impression bed. Power is applied to shaft B for imparting movement to print ing head C, the latter being presented over impression bed E so as to secure the desired printed impression upon the end ticket of strip X. The rod J being under the tension of spring is shown in Fig. 3 as held by the dog 0 when said dog 0 is over against the right wall of the recessed chamber 7. This brings the shoulder on the upper side of the rod J to a position about midway of said chamber and directly under the center of the upper dog N. Now, on the downstroke of the printing head through the stem It and lever Q the dog 0 is operated to release the rod J, but the dog N is caught on the top of the shoulder j and slides along the inclined surface so as to be fully depressed and be brought into engage ment with the next shoulder. Meanwhile the dog 0 being released from engagement with the rod J is free to swing under the tension of the spring 0 to a position against the left wall of the chamber 7 and beyond the shoulder j on the under side of the rod J directly beneath the dog N, so that on the upward movement of the printing head the dog N acts to release the rod J and the dog 0 is not caught until the next shoulder from the left on the rod J is moved over to the recess 7. It is thus clear that a feeding movement takes place both at the upstroke and the downstroke of the printing head. Movement is thus imparted to the rack rod J by spring drum K so as to move the rod, the pusher member and the ticket strip a predetermined distance, thereby presenting another ticket of the strip X into position over the printing bed and into the path of the printing head. The rack rod. the pusher member and the ticket strip occupy a stationary position until the next f rward movement of the printing head, at which time the type surface of said printing head makes the desired printed impression upon the neXt ticket, and said printing head acts to depress the stem R, whereupon the operations of releasing the rack rod, feeding the rackrod a predetermined distance, and again arresting the movement of the rack rod are repeated in substantially the manner hereinbefore described. It will be seen that an intermittent movement is given to the ticket strip which is advanced over the guide tube and the plate S, the depending pins as of the ticket strip being free to slide through the slot 9 and the space between guide rod T and plate S, thus retaining the ticket strip in position against edgewise displacement with respect to the impression bed.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a ticket printing machine, the com bination with a printing head, of a pinticket feedanechanism embodying a bed plate, a pusher positioned to traverse said bed plate, impelling means for said pusher, and means operable by movement of the printing head for imparting movement intermittently to said pusher.

2. In a ticket printing machine, the combination with aprinting head, of a bed plate, a pusher rod, and means actuated by the movement of the printing head for im parting movement intermittently to said I pusher rod relatively to the bed plate.

3. In a ticket printing machine, the combination with a movable printing head, of a bed plate upon which a ticket strip is adapted to slide, said bed plate having a slot for receiving the pins of said ticket strip, a pusher slidable relative to the bed plate, a spring for imparting movement to the pusher, and means actuated by the movement of the printing head for con trolling the feed movement of said pusher.

4. In a ticket printing machine, the combination with a movable printing head, of an impression bed having means for the passage of pins on a pin ticket strip, a

, spring-actuated pusher for impelling the ticket strip along the impression bed, and means operated by the movement of the printing head for controlling said pusher to impart intermittent movement to said ticket strip.

5. In a ticket printing machine, the combination with a movable printing head, of an impression bed having means for the passage of pins on a pin ticket strip, a pusher, and means controllable by the movement of the printing head for imparting intermittent movement to the pusher so as to present successive parts of the ticket strip in the path of the printing head.

6. In a ticket printing machine, the combination with a movable printing head, of an impression bed having means for the passage of pins on a pin ticket strip, a single feed member ranging lengthwise of the impression bed for moving the pin ticket strip relative to said impression bed, and means actuated by the movement of the printing head for controlling said feed member so as to impart movement inter mittently to the ticket strip.

7, In a ticket printing machine, the com bination of a printing head, an impression bed, a ticket feeding member guided for movement lengthwise of said bed, means for imparting movement to said ticket feeding member, and an escapement operated by the movement of the printing head For controlling the movement of said member.

8. In a ticket printing machine, the combination with a printing head, of an impression bed having means for guiding the pins on a ticket strip, a spring-actuated ticket feeding member mo 'able lengthwise of said bed, and an automatic escapement operated by the movement of the printing head for controlling the movement of said ticket feeding memberl.

9. In a ticket printing machine, the combination with a printing head, of an i1npression bed having means for guiding the pins on a strip of pin tickets, a spring-actuated rod slidable lengthwise of said bed, a ticket strip feed member actuated by the rod, and an escapement for controlling the movement of said rod, said escapement being actuated by the movement of the printing head.

10. In a ticket printing machine, the combination with a printing head, of an impression bed having means for guiding pins on a pin ticket strip, a spring-actuatial rod movable relative to said bed, a strip feeding member operated by the movement of said rod, and feed mechanism controlling the movement of said rod and the ticket strip to be advanced thereby into the path of the printing head.

11. In a ticket printing machine, the combination with a printing head of an impression bed having a slot vior guiding the pins on a ticket strip, a rod mo *able relative to said bed, means for in'iparting movement to the rod, a ticket strip engaging member cooperating with said rod, and an escapement operating to control the movement of the rod.

12. In a ticket printing machine, the combination with a reciprocating printing head, of aoslotted impression bed, a guide tube positioned below said bed, a rod slidable within said tube, means for imparting movement in one direction to said rod, a ticket feed member positioned exteriorly of said guide tube and operated by the rod so as to have sliding movement relative to the bed, and means for controlling the move ment of the rod.

13. In a ticket printing machine, the combination With a reciprocating printing head, of an impression bed in the path of said printing head, a rod slidable With respect to the bed, means for imparting movement to the rod, a Work engaging member slidable with respect to the bed and operated by the rod, cooperating dogs in operative relation to the rod, and means for actuating said dogs to control the movement of the rod.

14. In a ticket printing machine, the combination With a printing head, of an impression bed for receiving a pin ticket strip, a rod slidable With respect to said bed, means for imparting movement to the rod, a ticket feed member operated by the rod, a springactuated dog cooperating With said rod, a second dog controllable by the first named dog and operatively related to the rod, and

a stem in the path of the printing head for actuating the first named dog.

15. In a ticket printing machine, the combination of an impression bed, a printing head, means for guiding a pin ticket strip relative to the bed, and feed mechanism for imparting movement intermittently to said ticket strip, said feed mechanism being operable by the movement of the printing head.

16. In a ticket printing machine, the combination of an impression bed, a printing head, a cooperating plate and rod for directing a pin ticket strip relative to said bed,

and means controllable by said head for feeding the pin ticket strip to the bed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

MARCUS O. ANTHONY. Witnesses:

M. C. RODRIGUEZ, H. I. BERNHARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

